Épisodes

  • Leo Mert On How The Italian Game Is Different To The South African Game

    Leo Mert On How The Italian Game Is Different To The South African Game
    May 11 2022
    Cape Town-born youngster Leo Mert is yet another young South African who took a leap of faith to trial in Europe for a team. Leo was successful having recently just signed his first professional contract with Italian side A.S.D Seravezza Pozzi Calcio in the Serie D. Leo is an out and out striker, who is capable of playing anywhere in the attack, as he says “Where there is a chance to score, I’ll be there.” Leo represented the Bidvest Wits Academy as well as SuperSport United in the MDC, before deciding to join International Football scouting agency Socca Dream. From there, he was allowed to be scouted in Europe.

    On the latest episode of Player Abroad, Cape Town-born youngster Leo Mert shares his experience having recently signed for Italian outfit Seravezza Pozzi Calcio and how the game there differs from the South African football.
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    12 min
  • "Katlego Mashigo shares his Bafana Bafana dream, life in Europe, and his PSL admission"

    "Katlego Mashigo shares his Bafana Bafana dream, life in Europe, and his PSL admission"
    May 3 2022
    After securing a man-of-the-match award on his debut for Portadown FC, Katlego Mashigo is very quickly showing that he has the talent necessary to make a career out of playing in Europe. During part one of this two-part interview, Mashigo opened up about how he most likely wouldn’t have played football if he stayed in South Africa. Mashigo spent the first few years of his career in the youth leagues but very quickly made his way to the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) where he signed for Portadown FC, joining fellow South African Jethren Barr. Having represented Ireland at the u15 level, Mashigo, holding a dual-citizenship, explains which national country he would like to represent in the future and why. The 21-year-old explains why he would come back to South Africa and potentially the PSL.

    In the final part of this 2-part Players Abroad special, South African-born youngster Katlego Mashigo provides a career-first explanation about which national team he would like to play for. Mashigo also speaks about the chances of him ever joining a club in the PSL.
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    14 min
  • I Would Never Have Played Football If I Stayed - Katlego Mashigo

    I Would Never Have Played Football If I Stayed - Katlego Mashigo
    Apr 21 2022
    Katlego Mashigo is very quickly becoming a household name in Northern Ireland after the South African-born youngster received the man of the match award after his debut game. Rewind the tape to 2006, Katlego moved to Ireland, after spending the first five years of his life in Shoshanguve. Once in Ireland, Katlego’s mother took him down to the local football club to start playing, but as Katlego says so himself, he was more fascinated with the artificial pitch than the game itself! Speaking on the SL podcast, Katlego confesses that if he was to stay in South Africa, chances are he would never have kicked a ball, or the chances are slim at least.

    In Part one of this 2-part Players Abroad interview, Katlego begins to talk about how he started playing the beautiful game we all know and love; he takes us on his journey, starting right from the very beginning.
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    21 min
  • How Does The Scandinavian Game Compete With The Local Game?

    How Does The Scandinavian Game Compete With The Local Game?
    Feb 16 2022
    With the second half of the PSL underway, we wanted to take a trip down memory lane to our conversations with a few South Africans who are flying the flag high abroad! This is a very special highlights episode that features snippets from Luke Le Roux, Kgotso Masangane, and Bantu Mzwakal. The three South African stars representing Mzansi in Scandinavia talk about the different playing styles in their respective clubs compared to that of the PSL.

    On the latest episode of Players Abroad, Luke Le Roux, Kgotso Masangane, and Bantu Mzwakal reveal what it’s like playing abroad compared to what it’s like playing in the DStv Premiership!
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    7 min
  • SA Wonderkid On Making PSL History and Moving To Northern Ireland!

    SA Wonderkid On Making PSL History and Moving To Northern Ireland!
    Jan 3 2022
    During his early years as a footballer in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Jethren became the youngest goalkeeper in PSL History to make his debut, at the age of 17. Barr started his career in 2012 when he signed for Bidvest Wits. he spent the 2016/2017 PSL season on loan at Stellenbosch FC before signing for Maritzburg United, where he made history (and currently still holds that record.) Barr managed to secure a move to Portadown FC; the team plays in the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL). Barr has managed to claim a few personal accolades since joining ‘The Ports.’

    On the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s ‘Players Abroad’ Barr discusses his early career in the PSL, how it felt to make his professional debut for Maritzburg United and how he managed to secure a move to Northern Ireland after being held back on a few occasions. The 26-year-old goalie speaks candidly about how changing football agents helped him with his move to Europe. In the full show, Barr talks about the difference between playing in NIFL compared to the PSL and how he managed to adjust to the culture and playing styles.
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    9 min
  • “I Was Told To Consider A Career Outside Football”- Darren Smith

    “I Was Told To Consider A Career Outside Football”- Darren Smith
    Jan 8 2021
    During his early years as a footballer in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Darren Smith became a journeyman and moved between clubs frequently, playing for the likes of Amazulu, Stellenbosch FC, and SuperSport United. After failing to establish himself in any local side, Smith persevered and earned his opportunity in the Ykkönen (Finland’s second division), where he enjoyed a breakout season, scoring 18 goals in 22 league appearances to win the Golden Boot award, while also being crowned Best Striker of the Season and Player of the Season.

    In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “Player Abroad”, Smith discusses his early career struggles in the PSL and how he managed to earn a move to Finland against all odds. The 24-year-old striker also speaks candidly about how a particular PSL club CEO told him to give up on his football dream and consider a different path, and how his belief in himself and God helped him maintain focus on goal. In the full show, he also discusses his new team FC Honka and the opportunity to play in the Veikkausliiga (Finland’s top division) and the newly-formed UEFA Europa Conference League when he starts his next campaign abroad.
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    23 min
  • One SA youngster’s Tokyo Olympics Dream

    One SA youngster’s Tokyo Olympics Dream
    Dec 5 2020
    Former Stellenbosch FC & SuperSport United youth Luke Le Roux has been quietly earning his stripes, earning 23 appearances (and 20 starts) during the 2020 season of Sweden’s top tier, the Allsvenskan. The 20-year-old is back in South Africa due to a work permit issue, but with his side having already secured their top flight status for next year’s campaign, he has his sights set on next year. The central midfielder has dreams of making the South Africa u23 side which will travel to Tokyo for the 2021 Olympics. Having been left out of last year’s preliminary squad for the tournament, he’ll have a second chance due to the postponement of the games which was caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

    In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “Players Abroad”, Le Roux discusses the 2020 Allsvenskan campaign and the importance of getting game time to earn experience and build his confidence. He also opens up about his ambitions to earn a spot in David Notoane’s South Africa u23 squad when they travel to Tokyo, Japan for this year’s Olympic games. Le Roux also discusses the added benefit of having fellow SA youngsters Tashreeq Matthews and Keanin Ayer with him in the Varberg Bois squad.
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    8 min
  • Bantu Mzwakali On The Physicality Of Swedish Football

    Bantu Mzwakali On The Physicality Of Swedish Football
    Sep 18 2020
    Bantu Mzwakali shares his experiences of life as a footballer in Sweden from the physicality of the league, to be unable to see his family due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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    11 min